ACV - Nehemiah

Chapter 1

1:1  The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

1:2  that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

1:3  And they said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. Also the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates of it are burned with fire.

1:4  And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days. And I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,

1:5  and said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:

1:6  Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou may hearken to the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the sons of Israel thy servants while I confess the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned.

1:7  We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commanded thy servant Moses.

1:8  Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commanded thy servant Moses, saying, If ye trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples,

1:9  but if ye return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the outermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.

1:10  Now these are thy servants and thy people whom thou have redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

1:11  O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name, and, I pray thee, prosper thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Chapter 2

2:1  And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not formerly been sad in his presence.

2:2  And the king said to me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much afraid.

2:3  And I said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchers, lies waste, and the gates of it are consumed with fire?

2:4  Then the king said to me, For what do thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

2:5  And I said to the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant has found favor in thy sight, that thou would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' sepulchers, that I may build it.

2:6  And the king said to me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall thy journey be? And when will thou return? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time.

2:7  Moreover I said to the king, If it please the king, let letters be given to me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through till I come to Judah,

2:8  and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

2:9  Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.

2:10  And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there came a man to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

2:11  So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

2:12  And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me. I neither told any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem, nor was there any beast with me except the beast that I rode upon.

2:13  And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal's well and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates of it were consumed with fire.

2:14  Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the king's pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.

2:15  Then I went up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall. And I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.

2:16  And the rulers did not know where I went, or what I did, neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the ranking men, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.

2:17  Then I said to them, Ye see the evil condition that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates of it are burned with fire. Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach.

2:18  And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

2:19  But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king?

2:20  Then I answered them, and said to them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us. Therefore we his servants will arise and build, but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Chapter 3

3:1  Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up the doors of it, even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananel.

3:2  And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3:3  And the sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it.

3:4  And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.

3:5  And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their ranking men did not put their necks to the work of their lord.

3:6  And the old gate Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired. They laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, and the bolts of it, and the bars of it.

3:7  And next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, who pertained to the throne of the governor beyond the River, repaired.

3:8  Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. And next to him Hananiah one of the perfumers repaired. And they fortified Jerusalem even to the broad wall.

3:9  And next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired.

3:10  And next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired.

3:11  Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.

3:12  And next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.

3:13  Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah, repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.

3:14  And Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it.

3:15  And Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the fountain gate. He built it, and covered it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of David.

3:16  After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to the place opposite the sepulchers of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.

3:17  After him the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani, repaired. Next to him Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district.

3:18  After him their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired.

3:19  And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another portion opposite the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.

3:20  After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

3:21  After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.

3:22  And after him the priests, the men of the Plain, repaired.

3:23  After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house.

3:24  After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another portion, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner.

3:25  Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh repaired.

3:26  (Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, to the place opposite the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)

3:27  After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, opposite the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel.

3:28  The priests repaired above the horse gate, every man opposite his own house.

3:29  After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate, repaired.

3:30  After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another portion. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber.

3:31  After him Malchijah one of the goldsmiths to the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, repaired opposite the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner.

3:32  And between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.

Chapter 4

4:1  But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

4:2  And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burnt?

4:3  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox goes up he shall break down their stone wall.

4:4  Hear, O our God, for we are despised, and so turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity,

4:5  and do not cover their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee, for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

4:6  So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half the height of it, for the people had a mind to work.

4:7  But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry,

4:8  and all of them together conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.

4:9  But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

4:10  And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens has become feeble, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build the wall.

4:11  And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.

4:12  And it came to pass that, when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said to us ten times, From all places from where ye shall return to us they will be upon you.

4:13  Therefore I set in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set there the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

4:14  And I looked, and rose up, and said to the ranking men, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

4:15  And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to naught, that we returned all of us to the wall, every man to his work.

4:16  And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my servants labored in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail. And the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

4:17  They all built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves, every man with one of his hands labored in the work, and with the other held his weapon,

4:18  and the builders, every man had his sword girded by his side, and so built. And he who sounded the trumpet was by me.

4:19  And I said to the ranking men, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

4:20  In whatever place ye hear the sound of the trumpet, gather ye there to us, our God will fight for us.

4:21  So we labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

4:22  Likewise at the same time I said to the people, Let each with his servant lodge within Jerusalem that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.

4:23  So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, everyone went with his weapon to the water.

Chapter 5

5:1  Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.

5:2  For there were who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain that we may eat and live.

5:3  There were some also who said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain because of the dearth.

5:4  There were also who said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.

5:5  Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our sons as their sons. And, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already. Neither is it in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.

5:6  And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

5:7  Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the ranking men and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, everyone of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.

5:8  And I said to them, According to our ability we have redeemed our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the nations, and would ye even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us? Then they were silent, and found not a word.

5:9  Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

5:10  And I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

5:11  Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

5:12  Then they said, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them, so will we do, even as thou say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.

5:13  Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, who does not perform this promise, even thus be he shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said, Truly, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.

5:14  Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.

5:15  But the former governors who were before me charged the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear of God.

5:16  Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither did we buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there to the work.

5:17  Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were round about us.

5:18  Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep, also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I did not demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

5:19  Remember to me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

Chapter 6

6:1  Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),

6:2  that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

6:3  And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it, and come down to you?

6:4  And they sent to me four times after this sort, and I answered them after the same manner.

6:5  Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand

6:6  in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou are building the wall. And thou would be their king according to these words.

6:7  And thou have also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah. And now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

6:8  Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as thou say, but thou imagine them out of thine own heart.

6:9  For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work that it not be done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.

6:10  And I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up, and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple. For they will come to kill thee, yea, they will come to kill thee in the night.

6:11  And I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there, that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

6:12  And I discerned, and, lo, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me, and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

6:13  For this cause he was hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

6:14  Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, who would have put me in fear.

6:15  So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

6:16  And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations that were around us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

6:17  Moreover in those days the ranking men of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.

6:18  For there were many in Judah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah to wife.

6:19  Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

Chapter 7

7:1  Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,

7:2  that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

7:3  And I said to them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot, and while they stand on guard, let them shut the doors, and bar ye them. And appoint watchmen of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be opposite his house.

7:4  Now the city was wide and large, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not built.

7:5  And my God put into my heart to gather together the ranking men, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first. And I found written therein:

7:6  These are the sons of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city,

7:7  who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

7:8  the sons of Parosh, two thousand a hundred and seventy-two;

7:9  the sons of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two;

7:10  the sons of Arah, six hundred fifty-two;

7:11  the sons of Pahath-moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen;

7:12  the sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty-four;

7:13  the sons of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five;

7:14  the sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty;

7:15  the sons of Binnui, six hundred forty-eight;

7:16  the sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight;

7:17  the sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two;

7:18  the sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven;

7:19  the sons of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven;

7:20  the sons of Adin, six hundred fifty-five;

7:21  the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;

7:22  the sons of Hashum, three hundred twenty-eight;

7:23  the sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four;

7:24  the sons of Hariph, a hundred and twelve;

7:25  the sons of Gibeon, ninety-five;

7:26  the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, a hundred eighty-eight;

7:27  the men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty-eight;

7:28  the men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two;

7:29  the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three;

7:30  the men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one;

7:31  the men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty-two;

7:32  the men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred twenty-three;

7:33  the men of the other Nebo, fifty-two;

7:34  the sons of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty-four;

7:35  the sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty;

7:36  the sons of Jericho, three hundred forty-five;

7:37  the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one;

7:38  the sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

7:39  The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three;

7:40  the sons of Immer, a thousand fifty-two;

7:41  the sons of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred forty-seven;

7:42  the sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

7:43  The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah, seventy-four.

7:44  The singers: the sons of Asaph, a hundred forty-eight.

7:45  The porters: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, a hundred thirty-eight.

7:46  The Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,

7:47  the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,

7:48  the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai,

7:49  the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,

7:50  the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,

7:51  the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah.

7:52  The sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim,

7:53  the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,

7:54  the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,

7:55  the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,

7:56  the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

7:57  The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,

7:58  the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,

7:59  the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.

7:60  All the Nethinim and the sons of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety-two.

7:61  And these were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not show their fathers' house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:

7:62  The sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two.

7:63  And of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.

7:64  These sought their registration among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found. Therefore they were deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.

7:65  And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

7:66  The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty,

7:67  besides their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. And they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.

7:68  Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six, their mules, two hundred forty-five,

7:69  their camels, four hundred thirty-five, their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

7:70  And some from among the heads of fathers gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.

7:71  And some of the heads of fathers gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver.

7:72  And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven priests' garments.

7:73  So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities. And when the seventh month came, the sons of Israel were in their cities.

Chapter 8

8:1  And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.

8:2  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

8:3  And he read in it before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

8:4  And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand, and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

8:5  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

8:6  And Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Truly, Truly, with the lifting up of their hands. And they bowed their heads, and worshiped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.

8:7  Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law. And the people stood in their place.

8:8  And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly, and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

8:9  And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Jehovah your God; do not mourn nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

8:10  Then he said to them, Go your way, eat fat things, and drink sweet things, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord; neither be ye grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.

8:11  So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, Be silent, for the day is holy, neither be ye grieved.

8:12  And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

8:13  And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.

8:14  And they found written in the law how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month,

8:15  and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

8:16  So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, each one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.

8:17  And all the assembly of those who came again out of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths, for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the sons of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.

8:18  Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

Chapter 9

9:1  Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.

9:2  And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

9:3  And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day, and another fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Jehovah their God.

9:4  Then Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, and cried with a loud voice to Jehovah their God.

9:5  Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God from everlasting to everlasting. And blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

9:6  Thou are Jehovah, even thou alone, thou have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships thee.

9:7  Thou are Jehovah, the God who chose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham,

9:8  and found his heart faithful before thee, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his seed, and have performed thy words, for thou are righteous.

9:9  And thou saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,

9:10  and showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for thou knew that they dealt proudly against them, and got thee a name, as it is this day.

9:11  And thou divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land. And thou cast their pursuers into the depths as a stone into the mighty waters.

9:12  Moreover in a pillar of cloud thou led them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.

9:13  Thou also came down upon mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,

9:14  and made known to them thy holy sabbath, and commanded them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant.

9:15  And thou gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which thou had sworn to give them.

9:16  But they and our fathers dealt proudly and stiffened their neck, and did not hearken to thy commandments,

9:17  and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou did among them, but stiffened their neck. And in their rebellion they appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and did not forsake them.

9:18  Yea, when they had made a molten calf for them, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations,

9:19  yet thou in thy manifold mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not depart from over them by day to lead them in the way, neither the pillar of fire by night to show them light, and the way in which they should go.

9:20  Thou also gave thy good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold thy manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

9:21  Yea, forty years thou sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes did not grow old, and their feet did not swell.

9:22  Moreover thou gave them kingdoms and peoples, which thou allotted after their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

9:23  Their sons thou also multiplied as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land concerning which thou said to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.

9:24  So the sons went in and possessed the land. And thou subdued the inhabitants of the land before them, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.

9:25  And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

9:26  Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and killed thy prophets who testified against them to turn them again to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

9:27  Therefore thou delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. And in the time of their trouble, when they cried to thee, thou heard from heaven, and according to thy manifold mercies thou gave them saviors who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.

9:28  But after they had rest, they again did evil before thee. Therefore thou left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. Yet when they returned, and cried to thee, thou heard from heaven, and many times thou delivered them according to thy mercies,

9:29  and testified against them, that thou might bring them again to thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and did not hearken to thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and stiffened their neck, and would not hear.

9:30  Yet many years thou bore with them, and testified against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore thou gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

9:31  Nevertheless in thy manifold mercies thou did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them, for thou are a gracious and merciful God.

9:32  Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, let not all the travail seem little before thee, that has come upon us, on our kings, on our rulers, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

9:33  However thou are just in all that has come upon us, for thou have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly,

9:34  neither have our kings, our rulers, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened to thy commandments and thy testimonies with which thou testified against them.

9:35  For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gave them, and in the large and fat land which thou gave before them, neither did they turn from their wicked works.

9:36  Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that thou gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the good of it, behold, we are servants in it.

9:37  And it yields much increase to the kings whom thou have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

9:38  And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it, and our rulers, our Levites, and our priests, seal to it.

Chapter 10

10:1  Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

10:2  Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

10:3  Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

10:4  Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

10:5  Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

10:6  Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

10:7  Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

10:8  Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah. These were the priests.

10:9  And the Levites: namely, Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

10:10  and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

10:11  Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

10:12  Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

10:13  Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.

10:14  The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

10:15  Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

10:16  Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

10:17  Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

10:18  Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

10:19  Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai,

10:20  Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

10:21  Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

10:22  Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

10:23  Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

10:24  Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

10:25  Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

10:26  and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

10:27  Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

10:28  And the rest of the people-the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding-

10:29  they clung to their brothers, their ranking men, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes.

10:30  And that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons.

10:31  And if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy from them on the sabbath, or on a holy day. And that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

10:32  Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God,

10:33  for the showbread, and for the continual meal offering, and for the continual burnt offering, for the sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

10:34  And we cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is written in the law,

10:35  and to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, to the house of Jehovah,

10:36  also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God,

10:37  and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our heave offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

10:38  And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.

10:39  For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the heave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers. And we will not forsake the house of our God.

Chapter 11

11:1  And the rulers of the people dwelt in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.

11:2  And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

11:3  Now these are the chiefs of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. But in the cities of Judah everyone dwells in his possession in their cities, namely, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon's servants.

11:4  And in Jerusalem certain of the sons of Judah, and of the sons of Benjamin dwelt. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;

11:5  and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.

11:6  All the sons of Perez who dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.

11:7  And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.

11:8  And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.

11:9  And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.

11:10  Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,

11:11  Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God,

11:12  and their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,

11:13  and his brothers, chiefs of fathers, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

11:14  and their brothers, mighty men of valor, a hundred twenty-eight, and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.

11:15  And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni,

11:16  and Shabbethai and Jozabad of the chiefs of the Levites who had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God,

11:17  and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

11:18  All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.

11:19  Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were a hundred seventy-two.

11:20  And the rest of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.

11:21  But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel. And Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.

11:22  The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of God.

11:23  For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.

11:24  And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

11:25  And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the sons of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and the towns of it, and in Dibon and the towns of it, and in Jekabzeel and the villages of it,

11:26  and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth-pelet,

11:27  and in Hazar-shual, and in Beersheba and the towns of it,

11:28  and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in the towns of it,

11:29  and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,

11:30  Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and the fields of it, Azekah and the towns of it. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.

11:31  The sons of Benjamin also dwelt from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and the towns of it,

11:32  at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

11:33  Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

11:34  Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

11:35  Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

11:36  And of the Levites, certain courses in Judah were joined to Benjamin.

Chapter 12

12:1  Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

12:2  Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

12:3  Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

12:4  Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,

12:5  Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

12:6  Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah.

12:7  Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

12:8  Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.

12:9  Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were opposite them according to their offices.

12:10  And Jeshua begot Joiakim, and Joiakim begot Eliashib, and Eliashib begot Joiada,

12:11  and Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua.

12:12  And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah,

12:13  of Ezra, Meshullam, of Amariah, Jehohanan,

12:14  of Malluchi, Jonathan, of Shebaniah, Joseph,

12:15  of Harim, Adna, of Meraioth, Helkai,

12:16  of Iddo, Zechariah, of Ginnethon, Meshullam,

12:17  of Abijah, Zichri, of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai,

12:18  of Bilgah, Shammua, of Shemaiah, Jehonathan,

12:19  and of Joiarib, Mattenai, of Jedaiah, Uzzi,

12:20  of Sallai, Kallai, of Amok, Eber,

12:21  of Hilkiah, Hashabiah, of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

12:22  As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers, also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.

12:23  The sons of Levi, heads of fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

12:24  And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.

12:25  Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the watch at the store-houses of the gates.

12:26  These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe.

12:27  And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

12:28  And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites,

12:29  also from Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built for them villages round about Jerusalem.

12:30  And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

12:31  Then I brought up the rulers of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession, one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate,

12:32  and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the rulers of Judah,

12:33  and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

12:34  Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

12:35  and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,

12:36  and his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe was ahead of them.

12:37  And by the fountain gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water gate eastward.

12:38  And the other company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, upon the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad wall,

12:39  and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate. And they stood still in the gate of the guard.

12:40  So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me,

12:41  and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets,

12:42  and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.

12:43  And they offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. And the women also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

12:44  And on that day men were appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites. For Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who served.

12:45  And they kept the charge of their God, and the charge of the purification, and also the singers and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

12:46  For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

12:47  And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters as every day required. And they set apart that which was for the Levites, and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

Chapter 13

13:1  On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people, and in it was found written that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,

13:2  because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them. However our God turned the curse into a blessing.

13:3  And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

13:4  Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,

13:5  had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the heave offerings for the priests.

13:6  But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after certain days I asked leave of the king,

13:7  and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

13:8  And it grieved me greatly. Therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

13:9  Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers. And there I brought again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the frankincense.

13:10  And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each one to his field.

13:11  Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

13:12  Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.

13:13  And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. For they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.

13:14  Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances of it.

13:15  In those days I saw in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys therewith, as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. And I testified against them in the day in which they sold foods.

13:16  There dwelt men of Tyre also in it who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the sabbath to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

13:17  Then I contended with the ranking men of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

13:18  Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

13:19  And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath. And I set some of my servants over the gates that there should be no burden brought in on the sabbath day.

13:20  So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

13:21  Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why do ye lodge outside the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no more on the sabbath.

13:22  And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember to me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy loving kindness.

13:23  In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.

13:24  And their sons spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

13:25  And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

13:26  Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet there was no king like him among many nations, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin.

13:27  Shall we then hearken to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?

13:28  And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me.

13:29  Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

13:30  Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites, each one in his work,

13:31  and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.